Speaking on condition of not being identified, the officials said the weapons will be provided by the CIA.

Earlier, the Obama administration refused to provide details about what increased military assistance announced Thursday would entail and when rebels losing ground in their fight against the regime of Bashar al-Assad might get the help.

Ben Rhodes, a U.S. deputy national security adviser, told reporters that Washington would “increase the size and scope of the assistance.”

When asked for more details, Rhodes said: “I can’t give you a specific timeline or itemized list of what that assistance is.”